Yes Andrew’s proposed feat is amazing. Consider the difference in energy required for hiking a trail versus hiking cross country through Alaska. In that perspective the amount of food required would be about the same. The survival risks do to weather would be much greater in the Artic 1000.

Given that he likes to go fast all the time and with light packs, I don't see that he would be willing to build up to the heavy pack and very heavy load needed to do that. He'll just get more bone fractures. If he has a problem now, just wait.

>>He'll just get more bone fractures. If he has a problem now, just wait.<<

I wouldn't say that just yet. In 2000 I fractured the 4th metatarsal in my right foot and after recovery have since walked many miles with extremely heavy packs (60-80 lbs and sometimes two for short distances) without incident.

Does that mean no food that's not pre-purchased? Sounds tough to me! Especially heading through the NOC, passing up a pasta salad and hot dogs at Sloe Joe's Cafe... or heading through Hot Springs without a huge burger at the Smoky Mountain Diner... or missing a big group breakfast at Miss Janet's... or skippin the fish tacos at the Baja Cafe just off the trail in Damascus... and that's just the first 500 miles.

With that in mind, I'm very impressed he's even considering it. Should be a good one.-Mark

My bad on confusing the 2 trips (Matt"s and Andrew's).Can't really answer your question, David. I would E-mail Master Skurka about it. I can only assume that the menu will be hi-protein and fairly monotanous. Lots of nuts and the like.

Ryan's Arctic 1000blog has a good piece on food for long distances--http://www.ryanjordan.com/2006_arctic/2006/06/on_food_and_coo.html

Because of the off trail nature of the journey and the weather conditions, the caloric intake is going to be much higher a mi. than Andrew's attempted feat on a trail route in much milder conditions.